Game 102: The similarities of Hughes and Davis

Yes, it looks like Lance Berkman is headed to New York, with an official announcement to come tomorrow. Yay for that.

But there’s a game at hand, and we’re ready to cover that. Just two games separate the Yanks and the Rays, and it seems like it’s been that way for a month. They’ll face each other three times this weekend, and the series clearly represents big opportunities for both teams.

The opener features a duel between two similar pitchers, Phil Hughes and Wade Davis. They’re both 24, and they both broke camp in the rotation for the first time. They’ve also struggled similarly. Both have had some bad starts, and both have put up some good numbers against the poorer teams in the AL. As R.J. Anderson notes, they also lead the league in percentage of strikes as foul balls. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but it could be an indicator of their inabilities to put guys away.

In fact, when talking with R.J. earlier today he said something that stuck out to me. He mentioned that Davis would often get two strikes, but then keep going to the fastball and wasn’t able to put away batters. That sounds a lot like Hughes. Davis has a bit more of a swing and miss offering with his slider, but Hughes has other options, too. He’s been working in the curveball more often, and I’d like to see him bend two dozen or so tonight.

Hughes has a 2.36 ERA, 1.073 WHIP, and 1.95 (!!) FIP on the road this year

Pete

One nitpick: Phil Hughes broke camp in the rotation for the first time in 2008.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph Pawlikowski

What? Hughes didn’t pitch for the Yankees in 2008. You must be imagining things.

/selectivememory’d

zs190

Grandy and Curtis can’t both be DH =p Curtis is DH, Grandy is playing CF, I think.

http://twitter.com/j_yankees2213 j_Yankees

Colin Curtis DH.

/can’t wait for this to end. 24 hours.

forensicnucchem

Yup, I’d love for him to be with the team tomorrow, but I’m betting Sunday is more likely.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

I think he’ll be there tomorrow. Night game, short flight from Houston to Tampa.

forensicnucchem

Oh yeah, I was thinking it was a night game at first, then talked myself into thinking it was a day game. My bad, the 24 hours would expire by then too.

Pat D

I’m so tired, I don’t know if I’ll be able to fully concentrate on this game.

Let alone work, since I’m still there.

Total Dominication

Actually Bob, your 1st impression of Pena was correct.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Seems like the rumors are Kevin Russo and Jimmy Parades for Berkman.

vin

I can definitely live with that.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

heard. big time.

Ross in Jersey

I’ll drive the bus.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Russo is in full uniform for Scranton tonight and is in the dugout, probably just a day off. Paredes isn’t so lucky. He was in the lineup then scratched.

Pat D

So Miranda gets sent down tomorrow, right?

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

that’d be my guess.

forensicnucchem

It would have to be. With Berkman on board, Miranda is useless.

not gmanjoe

Berkman at least gives us a better bat then Thames. Thames can sit on the bench and pinch hit now.

not gmanjoe

Russo too? and all that salary. I don’t think so.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

you’d rather have Russo as the full-time DH? What value are you placing on him?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Use the reply button, makes it easier to follow the conversation. Thanks.

Pete

seriously?

forensicnucchem

Small sample sizes all around, but both offenses have great numbers against both starters.

It’ll be interesting to see which one can step up a bit against a good offense finally…

forensicnucchem

I don’t care about the splits, I’d still play Berkman over Thames against lefties, and I sure hope Girardi does too.

forensicnucchem

Ugh, Flaherty and Tino? Boy, that’s going to be boring and annoying.

Poopy Pants

whattthhh thhhaattttssss supppothed to mean?

-tino

http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF

He talks like he has a…something in his mouth.

Jose the Satirist

I forgot that Tino is employed by the YES network.

Total Dominication

The dramatic intro was ruined by the orange tree on the stadium.

Poopy Pants

What an ugly stadium.

Total Dominication

I hate this guys voice.

Pat D

Which guy? Dwayne Staats?

Poopy Pants

I keep waiting for Tino to slurp his retainer drool.

I like him, he’s just very strange as a broadcaster.

Paramecium Jones

No Zobrist? Is he hurt?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Yes, probably out all weekend.

/lucky break

Paramecium Jones

Thanks for the info.

Would say something about how the lineup looks without him, but I don’t want to tempt the fates.

/tempting the fates’d

http://www.twitter.com/jordan_smed JGS

no Zobrist, no Price, no Niemann–can’t ask for much more than that

Pat D

Sure you can. No Longoria, no Pena.

forensicnucchem

Sterling’s homerun call?

Fat Elvis has left the building.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Has to be.

Poopy Pants

“Lance! Lance! Look at that ball dance! right out of the stadium! oh my!”

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

i actually love this

http://www.twitter.com/jordan_smed JGS

+ 100000000000000

phughesisgod

Jimmy Paredes and Kevin Russo for Berkman? Holy crap. I’d love to call this a heist, but Berkmans not doing too well right now. Whatever, cant wait to see Berkman in uniform tomorrow, or in the Yankees clubhouse.

forensicnucchem

Berkman’s got a .925 OPS in July. How is he not doing too well right now?

Poopy Pants

Why is Nikola Tesla in the WB Mason commerical?

Pat D

Because he twice tried to change the world. On the second attempt he was asked politely to retire.

This is his retirement job.

/ThePrestige’d

Poopy Pants

This is sooo off-topic, but Tesla really was amazing. I guess trying to wirelessly transmit electricity to the entire planet and solve all fossil fuel/energy problems rubbed important people the wrong way (pocketbooks).
At least we got alternative current and radio from him!

Poopy Pants

*alternating

forensicnucchem

Nothing is off-topic in the game thread. Have at it… :-)

mikebk

“6:04pm: The Astros are picking up a lot of the money owed to Berkman and won’t obtain top prospects in return, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. The Yankees expect to make one or two more moves and continue working on trades”

so russo and paredes and they are paying some of the money, WOW, Ninja strikes again

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

As Axisa said above, Russo is in the dugout so probably not in the trade.

mikebk

not sure how sitting on the bench precludes him from being in the trade.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Valid point. It just doesn’t indicate he’s in it, like Parades who got scratched. Might just be a day off.

mikebk

also a valid point, but if your not playing tonight your rumored to be in it, lol.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

my bags are packed just in case!

Brooklyn Ed

Bob Klapisch:

Source says #Yankees “may have some other things cooking” after Berkman deal is complete.

phughesisgod

like who? Joakim Soria? Im in!

Mattchu12

Praying for it, but I don’t think it will happen.

Poopy Pants

Rice and beans?
– Flash

All-Star Carl

It’s sold out folks. You can’t buy a ticket.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Kay + Tino + Flash = oh God PAAAAIN

mikebk

seriously for the biggest series of the year.

Pat D

The biggest series so far.

phughesisgod

Im good with Flash and Kay. I just wish it was either Kay, Singleton, Leiter or Kay, Singleton, O’Neil. I miss Coney:(

forensicnucchem

I’ll give you Tino and Flash, but it’s already been established that I like Kay…

phughesisgod

I like Kay also. I also really like Lorenz. I’d love to see Lorenz, Leiter and O’Neil in the booth. Again, I miss Coney:(

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=9370232 Mike HC

hahaha, agreed completely

forensicnucchem

I’m so excited that we no longer should have see one of the slop players at the bottom of the lineup, outside of Cervelli every 3rd day.

phughesisgod

Is Pettitte with the team? I want them to show him in the dugout. He’s probably beaming with joy right now.

Poopy Pants

Suzyn’d

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

He’s probably all giddy and giggly. I wanna seeeeee. *_*

Mattchu12

IETC.

Paramecium Jones

Damn Jeter and your ground balls to shortstop!!

All-Star Carl

Swish!!!!!

forensicnucchem

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah Swish!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=9370232 Mike HC

He is only becoming more overrated!!!

http://www.twitter.com/jordan_smed JGS

I love road Swish

http://www.thesubwayconnection.com/ Newbie

SWISHER! That ball was absolutely crushed.

Brooklyn Ed

YESSSSS SWISHER!!!!

/fantasy stats pad

not gmanjoe

2-0 lol

Ross in Jersey

Strike like lightning!

Cy Farnsworth

Well that was fast. As Michael Kay would say:

OH!

Pat D

That’s a good start.

JSquared

I didn’t even see that leave swish’s bat…

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Just a fourth outfielder.

forensicnucchem

Nady deserves that World Series ring just for getting hurt so early in the year.

http://twitter.com/j_yankees2213 j_Yankees

2-0 already…and we don’t even have Berkman yet.

Brooklyn Ed

bet Swish is thinking, sorry Berk, you have to bat 6th.

/hehe

rek4gehrig

Crushed

Paramecium Jones

Come on Swish, can’t you work the count a little? Watching too much Jeter swinging at first pitches..

not gmanjoe

Tampa hates Swisher.

http://twitter.com/YankeesGalaxy YankeesGalaxy

It only took a Jeterian single & a Swisherian homer to get the Yankees starting right out of the gate FAST!

Paramecium Jones

No prob Teix, you’ll get at least 5 more chances tonight.

Hummingbird S.

right down the middle..

forensicnucchem

Swing looked a little slow/long on that one.

http://www.thesubwayconnection.com/ Newbie

Wow.. That was a monstrous swing.

not gmanjoe

really hate the cow bells so minor league.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Amen.

http://www.thesubwayconnection.com/ Newbie

Seconded.

http://twitter.com/j_yankees2213 j_Yankees

the thunder sticks say hello.

forensicnucchem

I hate ‘fans’ that can’t make noise on their own. Need extra crap like that and the thundersticks. So fake…

Paramecium Jones

A-rod, saving his hits for a more meaningful at bat.

Total Dominication

How’d he miss that?

http://twitter.com/j_yankees2213 j_Yankees

Time is moving slowly?

please stop talking Kay.

not gmanjoe

Davis has nothing we can not hammer.

Total Dominication

A delayed congratulatory Swisher YAYAYAYAY!

Paramecium Jones

A single, that’s the best you can do, Cano?

All-Star Carl

We all knew Posada was gonna strike out on that pitch.

Ross in Jersey

You’re annoying.

All-Star Carl

Ok Ross.

http://www.twitter.com/jordan_smed JGS

I didn’t

Slappy White

I love Tino so much, but it is painful to hear him announce

Hummingbird S.

agreed

Paramecium Jones

Hey, even HOF catchers strike out once in a while.

/done reversing the memes
/and good night.

Hummingbird S.

we could really use good Hughes tonight.. comon Phil!

Sean C

I’ll be perfectly fine with him maintaining his “Road Hughes” stats.

not gmanjoe

hughes has lost 3 mph off his fastball already this year.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Por qua?

Ross in Jersey

He’s throwing 93-94… seems normal to me.

Slappy White

do they have a YES radar or do they use the stadium radar ? speeds seem alot higher at some stadiums, or in this case, Fishbowls

not gmanjoe

just get Pena.

Jon in CUO

What’s worse than Tino and Flash on YES? Living in Florida and getting stuck with Dewayne Staats and Kevin Kennedy for this series. I’d rather listen to a trio of Hawk Harrelsons than these morons.

http://www.thesubwayconnection.com/ Newbie

Worse than a trio of Hawk Harrelsons?? Wow is it really that bad?

Jon in CUO

It’s all the homerism of Hawk with none of the entertainment.

forensicnucchem

Pena is one of 4 guys to have 2 homers at this point off Hughes. And we all know how much he seems to kill the Yanks. Gotta be careful with him with Joyce behind him.

Ross in Jersey

Came right after him with high cheese. Good shit.

forensicnucchem

Nice job Hughes. Just 6-7 more innings like that and we’d be happy. ;-)

not gmanjoe

I feel ya jon I am in Fl too. Kevin kennedy is more of a homer than Hawk and that really is saying something.

forensicnucchem

FYI, the reply button helps in following conversations and keeping things together.

not gmanjoe

Like Swish did Grandy needs some time with Kevin Long.

whozat

Grandy since the allstar break: .319/.385/.596

forensicnucchem

Tejada is going to add pop to the Padres? Is this the same Miguel Tejada who had an 81 OPS+ is a great hitters park in Baltimore???

monty burns

2-0 yanks EXCELLENT

All-Star Carl

Slobbing over Brignac for catching a pop fly.

Cy Farnsworth

I’d like to see Gardner take off early in this at bat.

All-Star Carl

Jeter doesn’t.

Cy Farnsworth

So much for that. Flash is right though, Gardner needs to stop waiting 4-5 pitches to take off.

forensicnucchem

I’d like to see Jeter give him a chance to…

whozat

d’oh

monty burns

Tropicana field = Kingdome 2.0 fugly.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

the Trop looks so weird filled up…

Pat D

I won’t believe that until I see it.

And right now I’m not seeing it.

Hummingbird S.

1st pitch groundout… lovely.

monty burns

what happened to vaunted Hughes change up that he had in Spring Training?

Really thought I’d see more steroid or asterisk signs at these games to taunt A-rod. Maybe YES isn’t showing them or whatever.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Probably because most nursing homes don’t have sign-making materials.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Quote from Berkman:
“I’m from Texas. Heck, I played at Rice. This city is like the womb. I feel very comfortable here. To think about the possibility of going anywhere else is kind of scary,” Berkman said.

Time to leave the womb big boy.

Ross in Jersey

He’ll be fine when he sees someone other than Carlos Lee or Hunter Pence protecting him in the lineup

Cy Farnsworth

How awesome would it be if A-Rod hit one off the catwalk and went inside the park?

Cy Farnsworth

Haha, come on Michael. Not even Sterling could’ve thought that one was getting out.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Oh goodness Kay, that one wasn’t even close

Little Bill

lol Kay. DRIVEN DEEP TO CENTER FIELD! It wasn’t even close.

All-Star Carl

Shut up Michael Kay

forensicnucchem

Damn terrible camera angles. Thought that was long gone.

FIPster Doofus

hahaha not a good night for Kay

forensicnucchem

I still fail to see the big deal of walking Miguel Cabrera at almost any point. Boesch is hitting .100 since the ASB.

forensicnucchem

Ha, and after saying this I look at the Detroit box score and the genius of Jim Leyland moves Boesch in front of Cabrera to make sure he ends all rallies before Cabrera gets to bat. By the way, Boesch, 0-2, 2 strikeouts.

Ross in Jersey

Boesch is hitting in front of him today with Damon out. Raburn batting 5th. Not that he’s any better…

rek4gehrig

I dont know who is more annoying…Kay or Kim…

FIPster Doofus

Man, Phil looks great.

JV

if im correct i think that was hughes’ 100th K of the season
kudos phil

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

You are correct.

larryf

so far:

Kay is moronic with his Alex fly ball call…

Can we find someone other than Jeter to bat after Gardy so he can steal a bit more?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Ugh, two pitches.

All-Star Carl

Take some pitches please.

forensicnucchem

Ugh, 3 of the last 4 hitters out on the first pitch…

Ross in Jersey

Man… stopped working the count completely. Ugh.

Tank the Frank

Letting Wade Davis off the hook there.

Tank the Frank

I welcome Berkman and his 17% walk rate with open arms.

forensicnucchem

Yup, and he’s top 20 in the majors in pitches per plate appearance.

Ross in Jersey

That commercial with the babies rollerskating is seriously more creepy than a Kay-Jones interview.

Matt

And that my friends is why the Yankees need a hitter like Berkman in the lineup, even if he is not quite what he once was.

Berkman sees 4.14 P/PA. He would rarely have weak at bats like the ones we’ve seen against Davis in the last few innings. Half this lineup is up there hacking away, even in situations in which it makes more sense to try to drive up a guy’s pitch count.

Jeter’s first pitch swinging after Davis walked Gardner on 5 pitches with nothing that close was just embarrassing to say the least.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Sheesh, Kay has the homerun call working tonight. Too bad all of these are fly balls.

Pat D

It is high, it is far, it is……popped to second!

Cy Farnsworth

You just know he has the call for #600 scripted.

In his notebook right next to his call for Jeter’s 3000th hit, and a love letter to Kim Jones.

so in the past two days the stros have dealt elvis and oswalt, paid 15 mil and have j.a. happ, brett wallace, villar, and reportedly russo, paredes. wow.

larryf

You mean I won’t see Russo at Scranton tomorrow night? I’m not going! Who will take the roster spot?

Ross in Jersey

Astros paying 4m of Berkman’s salary… lol

Hummingbird S.

Here we go, they are on his fastball and he can’t put them away.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

THE SKY IS FALLING!!!

Ross in Jersey

You saying that is good luck apparently, keep going!

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Oh Hummingbird S.

All-Star Carl

“For 79 years Babe Ruth was the youngest man to ever hit 600 home runs. Now, it is Alex Rodriguez.”

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Perfect.

larryf

A Gardy at bat for Brainiac but better results for us. I think it is time to restructure our batting order with Gardy leading off and a lefty batting second or, if Jeter, he must take 2 pitches. Am I crazy?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Hah! Houston is paying $4M of the $7M left on Berkman’s deal.

Ross in Jersey

lol I really don’t get it. Why not just keep him then? That 3 million really needed to sign someone in the international market?

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

no new word on prospects yet? Just the assumption of Jimmy P.?

forensicnucchem

It’s probably worth it to them just to avoid the fan support for picking up his option.

mikebk

so basically berkman for 1.5 rest of the year. 2 mil in the offseason.

monty burns

2 HRs for Bartlett this year? Wow did he take the syringe out of his ass this year.

JustinR

MLB extra innings pulled coverage of the game in the 4th inning (at least on Comcast in Philly) while every other game is on. Anyone else have this problem? Invited friends over too so we could watch. FML

Ross in Jersey

Jhonny Peralta making Lester his bitch.

Tank the Frank

Tejada? Really?

All-Star Carl

Yeah for the Nationals John.

ShuutoHeat (GGBG > Crawford)

According to a friend the Rays have won only 1 friday night game at home…Can anyone confirm?

I’m going to be honest I’m the biggest Alex fan but this is getting kind of frustrating. He’s missing them right down the middle. And you can tell he’s pressing because I’ve never seen Alex as off balance after a swing as he has been during this stretch. He pulled a Reggie Jackson and corkscrewed himself into the ground a few games ago.

Ross in Jersey

He did that a couple times on the homestand though and still managed to hit well otherwise. He’ll be fine, just probably annoying him a bit.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

I’ve never seen Alex as off balance after a swing as he has been during this stretch.

2006 playoffs, eeek. He just looked so off.

Tank the Frank

Eek did I say never?? I just meant to say he’s looked off balance on certain swings; like when he’s looking fastball in a fastball count.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Yeah, you did. No problem. ;) And agreed, he’s looked off-balance, but not the worst I’ve ever seen him.

Andy

Totally agree. But Kay and Co. keep saying how great his swing looks. He’s look terrible. And I’m a huge Alex fan, but this starting to get annoying. It’s not fun at all anymore watching his at bats.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Oh I soooo missed psychoanalysis with Michael Kay. ._.

forensicnucchem

Ok Posada and Grandy, extend the lead here…

forensicnucchem

Ugh, killer…

Andy

I don’t understand why everyone says Alex doesn’t look like he’s pressing. It looks like he’s way over swinging to me–am I missing something? Those are not his normal swings.

Phil seems to be getting a lot more swing and misses on the 4 seamer today.

forensicnucchem

Posada asleep behind the plate…

All-Star Carl

Great.

Hummingbird S.

not a bad walk.. set up the DP

forensicnucchem

Hughes really needs Pena to pull a Posada here…

larryf

crunch time Phil-get it done here!

All-Star Carl

How many pitches can Phil throw? 110?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

110-115ish.

All-Star Carl

Thanks

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Drat.

forensicnucchem

Ugh, that really sucks…

Ross in Jersey

And just like that… Matt fucking Joyce… sigh.

Kevin in Delectable Princeton

:(

All-Star Carl

Oh man come on. You had to go back to the curve.

ShuutoHeat (GGBG > Crawford)

Dagnammit.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Sherman says Melancon in Berkman deal

forensicnucchem

I really liked Melancon, so if true that sucks. But it’s nice to see he’ll finally get a real chance in the majors instead of being sort of jerked around here.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

he could be in the majors right now if he could get AAA hitters out. He’s been awful.

Ross in Jersey

Jerked around? He’s been awful for a month. Can’t throw strikes. Couldn’t throw them when in the majors, either. Not saying he doesn’t have potential, but I don’t see how he was “jerked around”

forensicnucchem

I know about this year. But the past years he’s dominated and never been given a chance in the bigs. Up for 10-15 days, pitches once or twice.

Ross in Jersey

Yeah, and when he pitched he was pretty bad, walking way too many guys. If you can’t throw strikes you’re not going to stay in the majors very long, I still don’t see how this was jerking him around.

Chip

No way, that’s an overpay if true

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

they must really think Melancon’s struggles are permanent.

Hummingbird S.

that sucks.. please get through this inning Phil

Ross in Jersey

That wasn’t even a bad pitch… unreal. Big fucking hit, that really sucks.

JohnnyC

Bad location and the sad thing is that’s where Posada wanted it.

monty burns

I go get a beer and some girl named joyce goes deep.

All-Star Carl

Come on you should have thrown that 2-2.

Kevin in Delectable Princeton

Oh well, no big deal. Nothing that we can’t come back from.

Ross in Jersey

Posada double play really looms large now. Game changer if the Yanks don’t rally. How did he not beat that out?

rek4gehrig

Now, who the heck is Joyce?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

He’s the guy they got from Detroit for Edwin Jackson last year.

Mosh

Matt Joyce is a young slugger. He hit 12 Hrs in 242 ABs as a 23 yr old. The Rays traded Jackson for him.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Surprised the Yanks quit on Melancon so quick. Must think his bad year is permanent.

All-Star Carl

Bye bye Mark Melancon.

Matt

Joyce completely flailed and missed at a 2-1 curveball down and in.

What pitch do you think he was sitting on?

Throwing the pitch that he is so obviously sitting on is just dumb pitching. If you threw that pitch away instead of inside he grounds it harmlessly to second base as he pulls off of it.

Ross in Jersey

You can just add Joyce to the list of shitty non-sluggers the Yankees have given up bombs to this year. I don’t understand it myself.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Have you looked at Matt Joyce’s numbers? He’s not a shitty non-slugger just because you haven’t heard of him.

All-Star Carl

Really John? The Yanks are counting down outs? Maybe a scrub like you would do that.

forensicnucchem

Well, at least the top/middle of the order will be up in the 8th/9th innings. Just gotta hope Joba can hold the one run deficit.

Hummingbird S.

too many popus tonight..

All-Star Carl

Annoying.

Ross in Jersey

Really, can’t even get Davis out of the game in the 7th inning? Come on already.

Matt

The way Davis has pitched tonight, they should have knocked him out in the 5th or 6th inning. All the weak one pitch outs killed them. With a guy like Davis, you need to wait for him to work himself into trouble by working deep counts. Swinging at the first pitch against a guy with good stuff is just stupid.

What happened to the days of beating a guy with tough stuff by getting to the bullpen? The kind of approach they take against a guy like Felix Hernandez is to swing at everything and pray it’s down the middle, and then he pitches 9 shutout innings.

All-Star Carl

A guy like Felix will throw strike after strike. This guy not so much. BG worked a 5 pitch walk and Jeter grounded out on the next pitch. It’s terrible sometimes.

JohnnyC

That’s why not having Nick Johnson really hurts the line-up. Maybe Berkman can show some discipline at the plate as well as pose more of a power threat.

Matt

Exactly, it’s about winning the war maybe by losing a few battles early on.

It’s a lot more productive to make an out on 6 or 7 pitches by grinding out the at bat early in the game than making a one pitch out but “hitting it hard.” Mental victories mean nothing when the starting pitcher goes an extra inning because of your garbage at bats.

The back to back one pitch outs in the 4th got Wade Davis right back in the game and kept his pitch count down. When you have a guy with an elevated pitch count who is on the ropes, you have to make a conscious, team effort to finish the job.

Half the guys in this lineup are going up there hacking away most of the time. There is no consistency even within a single game, and in a game like tonight it makes a huge difference when you have guys who break the game plan.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Oh I see we’re all whining about our sucky offense again. Awesome.

larryf

Getting beat by a guy with 3 HR and 14 rbi’s coming in. Painful.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

He’s played 27 games.

Matt

The Joyce home run was just dumb pitching by Hughes, but it would not have been the game if this “league leading” offense could do anything against a guy who was working himself into trouble all game falling behind hitters the way Davis was.

Too bad they can’t pad their league leading run totals on the Cleveland bullpen come October. The numbers are good on paper but this team is simply not good at grinding out at bats in close games.

Are the Yankees supposed to be, like, ashamed they murder bad pitching? When we didn’t hit Cleveland’s pitching that well in the first two games, people bitched and whined. Now we hit Cleveland’s pitching well and people bitch and whine. It’s ridiculous. Seriously, people are spoiled as all hell. (It’s not just you, I’m just irritated at the WAAAH WE SUCK stuff that comes up whenever the Yankees aren’t winning like 11-0.)

Matt

The offense has been this way all year, this isn’t just reactionary.

If not for how awful Cleveland’s pen was last night, they were totally blowing it that night as well. Something like 0-9 with RISP before that Jeter go ahead single.

The numbers look good because they have games where they blow guys out mixed inbetween, but they are not consistent and that’s the big issue.

A big part of it is Jeter’s lack of patience out of the leadoff spot, which tends to ruin a lot of what they have worked hard for when a guy like Gardner grinds out a long at bat and a walk in front of him.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

The offense has been this way all year, this isn’t just reactionary.

So come here and say it when we’re not losing.

If not for how awful Cleveland’s pen was last night, they were totally blowing it that night as well. Something like 0-9 with RISP before that Jeter go ahead single.

0-for-10, I think. And 7-for-11 after that. You can’t just hysterically overemphasize the 0-for-10 and ignore the 7-for-11. Which is the team’s real ability with RISP? Probably somewhere in between.

The numbers look good because they have games where they blow guys out mixed inbetween, but they are not consistent and that’s the big issue

(grabs megaphone)
Welcome to baseball. Every team works like that. There is no team that goes out there and scores, say, 7 runs every day.

Agreed, Jeter’s been a disappointment all year. No problems with that.

Matt

So if I complain that they are not having a good offensive night and they are winning, it doesn’t matter because they are winning? Then once they blow the game because guess what, they didn’t score enough runs and the pitcher made one mistake that cost them, I can’t say anything now because the pitcher should have held the lead, right?

So no matter what the offense does, it can never do anything wrong. And the 7 for 11 after that was against some of the worst pitching in all of baseball coming out of the Cleveland bullpen. Two rookie starters with mediocre stuff and nothing off of them.

There is a difference between having the typical ups and downs of baseball and having stuff like 11 in one game and 2 in the next. It’s 6.5 runs per game, it looks good statistically, but you only had a realistic shot to really win one of the two games. If you scored them like 9 and 4 even you probably have a much better chance of winning both.

Jeter… I just hope he doesn’t get the extension they’re going to give him, because if it were anyone but him and they had a year like he has, they’d get 2 years/$15 million at most on the market.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

No, it’s just people only show up when they’re losing and never show up when they’re winning. It is terribly irritating.

So no matter what the offense does, it can never do anything wrong

Where did I say that? The first five, six innings of yesterday’s game made me want to tear my hair out. So did the pop-up-a-thon of tonight’s game. But believe it or not, the Yankees have a really good offense. I’m not sure why you’re trying to argue otherwise. What other offense would you rather have?

There is a difference between having the typical ups and downs of baseball and having stuff like 11 in one game and 2 in the next. It’s 6.5 runs per game, it looks good statistically, but you only had a realistic shot to really win one of the two games. If you scored them like 9 and 4 even you probably have a much better chance of winning both.

Except the Yankees aren’t really like that. If it was that extreme, they wouldn’t be that good a team.

larryf

Joba from the stretch with nobody on. has that been all season? have I missed that?

JM

At least the top of the lineup is up in the eighth. Come on, Joba, don’t let us down!

monty burns

Garza needs to be off camera. Many what clown.

sleepykarl

I like how they keep talking shit about Joba as he is mowing guys down.

Mattchu12

I really liked Mark Melancon, but between the money and what we traded, I absolutely love this trade. Fat Elvis could go off at any point, I love it.

Ross in Jersey

First 1-2-3 inning Joba has thrown in what feels like centuries.

Andy

Is the guy who has the .76 ERA coming in now? Awesome. This is going to be a fun inning.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

We tied it up off him last time. Why are people acting like we’ve never ever beaten the Rays before?

Good inning for Joba right there. Hopefully this is the beginning of positive regression.

frank

Melancon and Jimmy Paredes to ‘stros for Berkman.

B.J.

Yanks on the verge of trading for OF Austin Kearns per Jon Heyman on Twitter

All-Star Carl

New post. We got Kearns. Shocked.

larryf

Shelley Duncan filled him in on being a bench guy on the yanks

monty burns

Good! Didn’t want to lose Russo. He in next years utility guy. Pena and his invisible bat have to go.

All-Star Carl

Man this would be an aggravating loss.

Matt

Somebody must have made a typo on the memo the Yankees received.

You’re supposed to show up for innings one THROUGH nine, not one AND nine.

http://www.thesubwayconnection.com/ Newbie

Haha Michael Kay with the “Dionner Navarro was an all-star!” yet again.

Chip

And there’s Joba’s first infield fly on the year

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Joba was pretty frigging awesome tonight, at least.

http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/yank_c.jpg T-Dubs

Heard. Impressed.

CapitalT

guess he finally got angry. AL, you won’t like Joba when he’s angry

monty burns

Thats the best slider Joba has thrown all year.

larryf

So who did we trade for kearns?

phughesisgod

PTBNL

monty burns

an A-Bomb from Arod. I am calling it here.

Pat D

Well, if he doesn’t, we’ll have to see a Wallace Matthews article about how terrible he is.

All-Star Carl

Soriano is gonna choke this game away.

Total Dominication

Fuck.

All-Star Carl

Great a pop up.

Andy

Alex’s leg kick is huge. Not good for him.

Steve O.

I’d say it’s worked out pretty well for him.

All-Star Carl

Another pop up!

Matt

That’s what happens when you go up there trying to go deep off a guy with a good fastball he can run it in on your hands.

Every hitter in this lineup trying to go deep, rather than trying to fight some base hits off and give themselves a chance to tie it with something smaller.

Of course it will now be Hughes’ fault for blowing a 2-0 lead, rather than the offense’s for scoring ZERO since they took said lead in the first.

Brian

Exactly how do you know that they were “going deep”?

And thanks for giving Wade Davis ZERO credit.

Matt

Wade Davis doesn’t deserve much credit for tonight’s game. How many one pitch outs did they hand him on a platter? They hit 2 or 3 balls early on that he was lucky to get away with, as they died on the warning track.

And it’s pretty obvious when a team is trying to hit home runs, as opposed to just getting under some balls. You can tell from the swings, so don’t try to lecture me about how you “can’t possibly know!!!” They were just missing some of them, but that’s what happens when you face pitchers with good fastballs.

Apparently Lance Berkman will officially become a Yankee at 1:30 eastern tomorrow.

monty burns

not a minute too soon.

Kevin in Delectable Princeton

Holy shit Jorge you are slow.

Total Dominication

Damnit, whatever, we’ll get them tomorrow.

monty burns

wow way to give the game away.

Total Dominication

How did we give the game away.

Nikhil R.

Any other Yankee would have beaten that out. Dammit

forensicnucchem

Wow is Posada slow…

That game really sucked.

larryf

Berkman would have beat that one out too!

Cy Farnsworth

Say what you will, but the Rays are a very, very good team. That was a tough loss.

rek4gehrig

Yes they are but they really dont scare me. We will win the AL East.

All-Star Carl

Why is he jumping up and down like they clinched the pennant?

Poopy Pants

They DID beat a team that spends $200 million.

Ross in Jersey

The owner of the Rays is a very rich man. He could spend $200 million if he really wanted to.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

So?

Matt

Because these games matter a ton in the standings, and the Yankees don’t have much wiggle room to give away games like they did tonight.

Wish the Yankees players played with the kind of intensity that the Rays came out with. Giving away at bat after at bat once they took the lead in the first, trying to coast to a win behind Hughes instead of finishing the job.

All-Star Carl

Jumping up and down though? It’s July.

Matt

It’s annoying to see on the field when you lose, but these games matter a lot. If the Yankees came out and played their hearts out and came back and won this, I’m sure you’d love to see that kind of intensity out there.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Stupid Yankees they’re just not trying hard enough!

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

I promise you, if the Yanks came back and won, I would not have once mentioned the word intensity.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Seriously. Remember that last game against the Dodgers? That was fucking awesome. But I don’t think I was crying about the intensity of the team or whatever. Just how awesome they were.

Matt

That Dodgers game is a prime example of why this offense has been a disappointment so far.

Look at what this lineup can do when they are firing on all cylinders. That 9th inning was a piece of beauty, but the reason they finished the deal was that they were PATIENT with Broxton to the point where he wore down and fell apart.

Up and down the lineup that night, they made Broxton work really, really hard for his outs. That is what I feel like this offense could do a lot more out there, which is why I feel like they are not quite there yet.

They have so much talent in that lineup, but they are inconsistent between games, in approach, etc. In the games in which they consistently wear a guy down like that, they tend to really put a hurting on him.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

So let me guess this straight. We:

. Have the best record in baseball

. Lead the league in comeback wins

. Lead the league in runs scored

And yet you can say with a straight face that the offense has been a huge disappointment?

I want some of what you’re having.

Actually, maybe not.

Matt

Just because you are doing well already, it doesn’t mean you can’t do even better.

When half your lineup is struggling and you are still scoring runs, that’s great, it means you have a great team. Nowhere am I denying that.

It doesn’t mean the offense has been as good as it can be. Sitting around and saying “good enough” is not a great attitude to take either, no?

You can make up for some sluggish offense with a few big time clutch hits here or there, like they did in the playoffs last year. It doesn’t mean the offense is as good as it should be.

Having the best record in baseball is wonderful, but using that as a comeback to comments about the struggles of hitters in the lineup is ridiculous to say the least. The record is good because you have so many good players that you can make up for it. It doesn’t mean that all of them are living up to what they can do.

If this team ever fires on all cylinders, you will see exactly what I mean. Look at what the games were like in April. It felt like opposing teams had almost no chance to beat the Yankees every single night. Every opposing pitcher was gone after 5 or 6 due to high pitch count.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

This is ten thousand times saner than what you were saying before, though.

Rarely do you get teams like the 2009 Yankees though, where so many guys have career years. I think we got spoiled by them. Our offense is still extremely good, when runs overall are down anyway.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

they were PATIENT with Broxton to the point where he wore down and fell apart.

Not to discredit the lineup here but the fact that Torre had hilariously overused Broxton probably had quite a bit to do with the fact that he wore down and fell apart.

But… I guess nothing is ever good enough. (And here’s where you fire out the WHY ARE YOU PRETENDING EVERYTHING IS GREAT WITH THE OFFENSE? strawman, probably.)

Ross in Jersey

Are you the Matt from LoHud? If so, please go back there. Your whining about the offense beyond this game gives new meaning to the words “pants on head retarded”

Matt

I don’t know how anyone in their right mind can think this offense is doing its job on a consistent basis.

The starting pitching has carried this team all season, but they are not going to be perfect every night. How many games do you win when you score 2 runs? Not very many, regardless of who is on the mound.

But they lead the league in runs scored OMG!!!! How about they save some of those runs for all of these close games they keep giving away? If they won even 1/3 of the games the offense and Joba have failed to put away, they’d be 5 games up on Tampa right now.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

We also lead the league in wins, so I’d say the offense and pitching staff is doing a fine job.

Ross in Jersey

Give me a break. By your measure, every offense in the history of the game has been bad outside of the 1927 Yankees and MAYBE the 1977 Reds.

“All these close games they keep giving away”

What?

Matt

Now you’re just being ridiculous by trying to extend my statement to its most extreme interpretation.

This offense has been a huge disappointment this season, regardless of their “numbers.” I don’t know how anyone who watches the game can disagree.

Do you feel like this team can fight back to steal games when they fall behind early? Do you feel like this team can bail pitchers out when they give up a home run to blow a lead? I don’t think many people have much confidence in this lineup when they get behind.

Even though their numbers are the same or maybe better, this is not the same caliber of offense as last season. With runners on base, they tend to leave their element and get too aggressive.

Ross in Jersey

Wow. Just wow. Please, go back to LoHud.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Well seeing as they have the most comeback wins in baseball and all

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

Dude, I don’t know how anybody who DOES watch the games can possibly say with complete seriousness that this offense is a huge disappointment. That statement is mind-bogglingly ridiculous.

Matt

Right, because it hasn’t been like people have been riding Jeter, Teixeira, Granderson, A-Rod, etc all season for their off years?

Everything has been so fine and dandy all season with this offense, or so you’d think when you read the posts of people who think the team can never do any wrong.

Until Teixeira started to finally pick it up offensively, this lineup was struggling big time to sustain consistent scoring. A few home runs help make up for a lot of bad at bats around them, but that doesn’t work every night.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

Some people are assholes. But we have the best record in baseball, we lead the league in comeback wins, and we lead the league in runs scored. You can bitch and moan, but honestly, you sound like a total asshole.

Matt

Which is exactly my point. The offense leads baseball in runs despite how bad some guys have been, which means they could be a lot better than they have been.

They still are not quite there, and nights like tonight show that there are still many guys struggling in this lineup.

Imagine if Jeter was working 4 or 5 pitch AB’s instead of 1 pitch outs? Even just one guy turning it around in that case would tack on an extra 10 or so pitches to the starter’s pitch count, which probably would have knocked Davis out of the game an inning earlier.

Games like the Broxton one give you a taste of what this offense could do if it ever got it going, with all the hitters together grinding out at bats in succession.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Basically.

Jeter’s sucked this year. Granderson sucked until this hot streak he’s been on. A-Rod’s having a down year for him. Tex is having a down year for him. No one is denying this /Simmons’d.

It’s just lame to say our offense is bad/pathetic when we lead the league in runs scored, OPS, wOBA, etc. What offense would you rather have?

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

But they lead the league in runs scored OMG!!!

Is this a bad thing? Would you rather they like… not… score the most runs in the league?

The starting pitching has carried this team all season

Even if this was true, which it’s not (well, it’s certainly a factor), is this a bad thing? Look at the Padres. Look at the Giants. Heck, look at your Super Intensity Superhero Rays. When we were an all-offense-no-pitching team from 2004-2007, people whined and bitched. Now we have good pitching (combined with an excellent offense) and people… whine and bitch. I don’t get it.

How about they save some of those runs for all of these close games they keep giving away?

Baseball doesn’t work like that.

Matt

…

Obviously baseball doesn’t work like that, are you serious? It’s called sarcasm.

Yes it’s good to have lots of runs, but having a lot of them in one game and few in the next is not a way to win ballgames. They are INCONSISTENT, which is what I’m saying.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to score runs or have good starting pitching. I’m merely pointing out that people are giving the offense too much credit. They have won many games this year in which they never would have had a fighting chance had their pitching been even ok.

That’s the benefit of good starting pitching of course, but to act like this team has no holes in the lineup is a little short sighted. Lance Berkman will make a huge difference in this lineup, just for the fact that he will help restore the mindset of working deep counts.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Again, this is a lot saner than what you were saying before. It’s kinda like you have two personalities, the batshit “this offense sucks!” side and the more sane “there are some disappointing years in the lineup” side.

I don’t think Berkman is going to make a HUGE difference but he is a really nice pickup.

Pasqua

Please share the way in which you measure the “intensity” exerted by a baseball team. Or, did they just not “want it” enough tonight?

JohnnyC

Intensity? No, I think they played hard and gave a good effort. Smart? You may have a point there. The one mistake that Hughes made was not only a question of missed location but also a brain cramp on his and Posada’s part. You do not make mistakes on the inner part of the plate late and with a small lead. If you miss the plate, let it be low and outside.

forensicnucchem

Because it’s a big win that almost counts double because you control the destiny of the team you’re chasing in the standings.

Pat D

Sigh. Hate losing the first game of the series, especially against a good team like this. Really can’t afford to lose the next two.

Ross in Jersey

Would have been nice for the Yankees to save some of those runs in Cleveland for this game. What an awful performance after the first inning.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Oh well. Get ‘em tomorrow. All you can do.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

You know, this loss really isn’t THAT big of a deal. We could get swept and still have an excellent shot of winning the AL East. It’s seriously not that big of a deal overall. There are 2 fucking months left. Get a grip, guys.

And no, I’m not alarmed by the supposed “lack of intensity” that I don’t think exists.

Ross in Jersey

Of course a team doesn’t look like it’s trying when they don’t hit. That’s been observed by half a billion people. Baseball isn’t a sport where you can bang your head on a locker and pump yourself up enough to win a game. You need a balanced, relaxed approach and when it doesn’t work it looks lazy.

Anyway. I wouldn’t want them to get swept. It would be nice to put some distance between us and them and take the next two.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

Of course I don’t WANT them to get swept. It would be fantastic if we won the next two games. But winning the next two games, or losing them, will not define this season.

Ross in Jersey

Of course not, I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise. But getting swept by the Rays would be a pretty big deal. This is August now, it’s time to separate yourselves from the competition.

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

Right. But if we lose the next two games, I’m not panicking because we’ll STILL ony be one game back with two months left in the season.

Seperation would be a great thing. But we can win the division without seperatng from Tampa Bay RIGHT NOW.

We can also win the WS without winning the division, BTW.

Ross in Jersey

Agreed. I’d rather face the Twins/White Sox in the first round instead of Texas, though ;)

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

True.

larryf

I will watch Montero run the bases tomorrow night. He has to be faster than Posada…

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

Another thing: We all know Posada’s slow. Saying it over and over will not make him faster.

I understand you’re all frustrated, but Posada has been this slow his ENTIRE CAREER.

larryf

but we need to vent for our mental health.

tigers 6-1 in the 8th

there I feel better already

poster on the same computer but a different desktop

Actually, that helped a lot.

The Goose

This sucks. No run production.

Dave

This game makes me a sad panda.

YankeesJunkie

Hughes pitched very well today. It was a shame that he gave up that home run. His FB-CB was great today, would have like to seen him get a win, but sometimes 1 pitch can wreck a game.

JohnnyC

Joe Maddon kind of reminds me of Spencer Tracy playing Casey Stengel. But it’s hard to tell whether his managing owes more to Casey or Tracy.

All-Star Carl

Jeter also needs to pick it up.

The Goose

I have a feeling tomorrow’s Yankees will be a bit different though.

http://ballcraft.blogspot.com Zanath

Tough game. Hopefully Javy continues pitching well tomorrow. I am a bit nervous if he can keep the Rays down, but I have faith. And let’s hope the no-hitter curse continues with Garza.

http://twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig

Tough loss today. We’ll get those suckers tomorrow.

http://ballcraft.blogspot.com Zanath

Good attitude! And if you want to look for positives from today:

Joba looked impressive

Hughes pitched a great game aside from that one pitch.

Ross in Jersey

Nice of Detroit to burn out Valverde and give up a grand slam to the corpse of David Ortiz. Just stupid.

http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

That Detroit won one game in that series is a freaking miracle to me. Especially because it was the game that Lester started…